Answered Prayers

       In the past couple weeks I have had two very specific prayers. One was that I would run into the lady that I talked about in the story Coffee and Deeds again. The other is that the teenager that I have been mentoring would open up more and feel more confortable around me. Both of these prayers came to be in the last couple weeks.

       Last Wednesday I ran into the lady in coffee and deeds again. She had come in with her two boys again. We were both very excited to see each other. We had a couple short chats between serving coffee and caught up on the past few weeks. She has decided to try out the Protestant church in the area! Our encounter was short but very positive and she invited me to come over to her house sometime soon. I am very encouraged to see this relationship start to really develope.

     Last week I invited the teenager that I have been mentoring over to my house. She was a little sky at the beginning and was displaying a lot of the same signs that I have been seeing in the past few weeks. We baked a cake and played some games and then I walked her back to her house. During this time she totally opened up to me. She talked way more then I have ever heard her, she was making decisions and even taking the lead sometimes. I also found out that she speaks a lot of English which is fairly normal for teenagers here but she had never shown this side of herself. All these things put together have shown me that she is becoming more and more confortable with me.

God is listening and moving in our work here.

My prayer for the next few weeks ahead are that I would start a couple new relationships like this where I could walk with people wherever they are at. As well as that these two relationships would continue to grow.
   

Coffee and Deeds

One of the ministries that I have been involved in a couple times and will continue to be involved in for the rest of the year is Coffee and Deeds. This is a volunteer based coffee house that is run by the church in the community. It is a place where people can come with their children or friends to share in community. As a volunteer we run the shop and also try to connect with people when they come in.  My job is usually to set the plates for coffee and to serve the coffee. I also help with preparing some food, wiping tables and doing dishes. With time as my language skills grow I may also learn to make the coffee and to take orders. My favourite part is when it isn't very busy we take the time to sit with people and have a conversation. My first time working there a woman who came in with her two young boys. As they played in the next room I had a long conversation with her. She is newly divorced out of an abusive relationship and now a single parent to her two boys. We talked about many things but the best part was that we got to talk about the church and what Christians believe. She asked questions like " Can anyone go to a church?  Or What value does Christ put on loving people?" Even though she had never been to a church she already knew that there was something different about Christians. At the end of the conversation she took my e-mail and said that she appreciated so much how real I was with her. My prayer is that I will meet her again soon and we can continue with this relationship. Friendship ministry takes time but I feel that this woman is so close to knowing Christ already. I am so thankful that I was able to meet with her at this time. Coffee and Deeds is just a normal, safe place for people in the community. It is a powerful tool to bring the church to the people.

Church Week Camp

Last week as a team we were in Tusin ( the Italian part of Switzerland) for a church camp week for people of all ages. As a team our job was to run the children's programs from 0-12 years old and to help out where there is need. It was a great week to get to know the community better that we are working with. One day I worked with the nursery children, two days with the 4-6 year olds and three days with the 7-12 year olds. We did many crafts, played games, told stories, prepared a treasure hunt and sang silly songs together. Each child was taught that they are precious to God, that others are precious to them and that God is precious to the children. This week was very good for practicing German and I am starting to feel that I can at least communicate on a basic level and give simple instructions. I also really enjoyed getting to know some of the youth in the church. It was great to talk to them and to spend time playing games and sports. I also got to know some of the families and elderly as well. It has been great since coming home to see these people in the community and to be able to reconnect. God really showed me once again this week that I am an example even if I can't communicate well, or I am not in a major leadership role he is still using me to reach people. He showed me this by comments like " you are so natural when you are with the teenagers, it seems like you have known them for a long time. They are all focussed on you." Or as I observe the people seeing that some of the younger girls are watching me, barely taking there eyes off and when I smile at them they light up with such joy. It is such a little thing to have a conversation, play a game or give a hug that changes a persons day or week or maybe is a memory that that young person will have for a lifetime. I am very blessed to be able to be apart of this community for this year!

A Daily Purpose

This week we spent the majority of the week wrapping up the bulk of the training as well as preparing for the family week coming up on Saturday. It has been a really amazing month that I have been able to learn and review many things and take this time to refocus on God as well as the  purpose he has given each of us on earth. It is so easy to look at all the problems of the world and think there is no point to even trying to make a change in our world. As believers we know it is not up to us. God is the one that is in control. We have the amazing privilege to walk along side and see the little things that make such a difference. One person, one situation at a time is what we are called to take on. As a team our goal is to bring hope to the next. This might mean doing some gardening, taking the time to have a conversation, preparing a skit to trigger emotion or walking beside someone who needs a friend. What I am learning this year is not to just have a work or ministry life between 8am and 5pm but to live in a missional way as Jesus has taught and shown through scripture. 

 

I feel so blessed to have this opportunity at this time in my life. Thank you to everyone that continues to support me through prayers as well as financially.